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On Sunday, 10 September 2016, Divine Life Society of South Africa will celebrate the 130th Birth Anniversary of the Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda (founder of Divine Life Society), who was born in Pattamadai, India on 8 September 1887. This momentous occasion will take place at the Sivananda Stadium, Sivananda International Cultural Centre (SICC), La Mercy. This day also marks the culmination of the 41-day chanting of the Sri Hanuman Chalisa.

The birthday celebrations will be held on two days. The first function will take place on Friday, 8 September at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills, commencing with a morning session from 6–6.45am. In the evening, Ganga Arati will start at 5pm. Supper Prasad will be served after Satsang. Do not miss this spiritual feast!

On Sunday, 10 September, all those who pledged to repeat the Sri Hanuman Chalisa for 41 days, as well as all devotees, are lovingly invited to meet in the beautiful and spiritually charged Prayer Hall, for the final recital at 6am. The 41 days recitation will culminate with Havan from 7 – 8am, as prescribed. Breakfast will be served thereafter.

It was on 1 August 2017 that the 41-day Sri Hanuman Chalisa was launched at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Of interest is the fact that this spiritual event attracted the attention of devotees from Germany, Holland and New Zealand.

Sri Hanuman was the living embodiment of the power of Ram-Nam. He was an ideal selfless worker, a true Karma Yogi who worked desirelessly. He was a great devotee and an exceptional Brahmachari or celibate. He served Sri Rama with pure love and devotion, without expecting any fruit in return. He was humble, brave and wise. He said to Ravana, "I am a humble messenger of Sri Rama. I have come here to serve Sri Rama, to do His work. By the command of Sri Rama, I have come here. I am fearless by the Grace of Sri Rama. I am not afraid of death. I welcome it if it comes while serving Sri Rama."

Our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda wrote, "See how humble Hanuman was! How deep was his devotion to Sri Rama! He never said, "I am the brave Hanuman. I can do anything and everything."

After breakfast, branches of Divine Life Society will participate in a March Past on the Stadium. This "Lap of Honour" is an expression of deep gratitude to the Divine Master and Pujya Swami Sahajananda for the bountiful gifts bestowed upon this country. Satsang will commence at the magnificent Sivananda Stadium at 10am. The Programme at the Stadium will include Bhajans and the ever popular and breath-taking Gymnastic Drill Display as well as other cultural items. The Chief Guest of Honour is The Honourable, Dr ShashankVikram, Consul General of India in Durban. After lunch, there will be a special Cultural programme, when branches of Divine Life Society of S.A. from all over the country will participate. The day will conclude with afternoon tea.

Few events are more auspicious than the celebration of Birth Anniversaries of saints, so this function too, is not to be missed. Regarding the celebration of his birthday, the Master explained the following: "The devotees take delight in celebrating the birthday and are uplifted and benefited. A spiritual wave is created year after year when the birthday is celebrated, and more and more people get a chance of knowing the existence of Divine Life Society and my teachings. The pious, receptive attitude prevalent on such an occasion draws forth the Grace of the Guru and God upon the devotees. The thoughts of peace, devotion, love etc., sent out by the innumerable devotees that assemble together to celebrate the birthday go a long way to promote peace, harmony and spiritual well-being in the country". The Master worked through his illustrious disciple Sri Swami Sahajananda (1925-2007), Spiritual Head of Divine Life Society of South Africa for 58 years, to create a better society for all in a variety of ways. We shall join millions of his devotees all over the world in paying tribute to this great soul.

It will be a day charged with spirituality, spent in the divine precincts of the Ashram. Please diarise these auspicious events. You and your family can also look forward to viewing special stalls exhibiting Sri Swami Sivananda's literature, melodious CDs, DVDs and beautifully framed pictures of the Master and Hindu Deities. A special stall will make available natural health tonics and practical information on health which incorporates the benefits of Ganga, Tulsi and Agnihotra. The activities of the Sivananda Sunlit Path Centre in Chatsworth, which currently offers counselling to those afflicted by depression and substance abuse and as well as computer and sewing courses will also be displayed. Soya health products that are prepared at the Centre will be available. There will also be a Divine Life Society Expo – tracing the history of Divine Life Society of S. A. as part of the Centenary Celebrations, when we celebrate Sri Swami Sivananda's Sannyas Centenary (100 years) and Pujya Swami Sahajananda's 100th Birth Centenary.

Set amidst rolling hills and luscious canefields, with a scenic view overlooking the Indian Ocean, the tranquil ambience of SICC will no doubt capture your heart, soothe your mind and infuse your being with peace. So be sure to join us in this spiritual expedition - a glorious experience awaits you!

Online Pledge Form It was on 1 August 2017 that the 41-day Sri Hanuman Chalisa was launched at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills. Of interest is the fact that this spiritual event…

Sri Hanuman was the living embodiment of the power of Ram-Nam. He was an ideal selfless worker, a true Karma Yogi who worked desirelessly. He was a great devotee and an exceptional Brahmachari or celibate. He served Sri Rama with pure love and devotion, without expecting any fruit in return. He was humble, brave and wise. He said to Ravana, "I am a humble messenger of Sri Rama. I have come here to serve Sri Rama, to do His work. By the command of Sri Rama, I have come here. I am fearless by the Grace of Sri Rama. I am not afraid of death. I welcome it if it comes while serving Sri Rama."

Our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda wrote, "See how humble Hanuman was! How deep was his devotion to Sri Rama! He never said, "I am the brave Hanuman. I can do anything and everything."

Herewith some guidelines from Pujya Swami Sahajananda: "The Sri Hanuman Chalisa is very powerful and very effective for the removal of all mental problems. It brings good health, success and prosperity. It cures diseases, counteracts evils forces, and the effects of 'black magic', which are so prevalent today. It was recommended to us by Pujya Mother Krishnabai, one of the greatest of living saints. Those who wish to recite it for the purposes stated above, must follow these instructions for the performance of the 41-day puja.

The Sri Hanuman Chalisa should be repeated regularly for 41 days, either in the morning or in the evening.

Have a bath and wear clean clothes.

Sit in any comfortable posture in front of the picture of Sri Hanuman.

Keep some fruit as Prasad in a little tray.

Keep 11 flowers in another small tray.

First commence repeating some Guru Mantras.

After the repetition of the Guru Mantras, commence the Sri Hanuman Chalisa from 'Sri Guru Charana Sarojaraja ...'

On completion of the repetition once, offer one flower to Sri Hanuman.

Do the repetition 11 times at one sitting. Each time a repetition is completed, offer one flower. In this way offer all 11 flowers.

After the completion 11 times at one sitting, repeat some Shanti Mantras, prostrate and get up.

The fruit can be distributed to all as Prasad.

While sitting in the posture, do not change it or look around. Keep the eyes closed and concentrate on Sri Hanuman, or concentrate on his picture with eyes open.

On completion of the Mantra 11 times for 41 days, perform Havan with the help of a qualified pundit, and do some puja in a Hanuman Temple with the guidance of a priest.

You can also do poor feeding or some charity on completion of the Yajna.

The recital of 41-Day Sri Hanuman Chalisa will conclude on Sunday, 10th September 2017, coinciding with the 130th Birth Anniversary celebrations of our Divine Master to be held on Sivananda Stadium. The chanting will take place in the Prayer Hall from 6 – 7am, followed by Havan at 8am. May the blessings of Sri Rama, Sri Hanuman, and our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda be upon you and your family always!

"Swami Sahajananda is an exemplary soul. He is a true replica of the divine qualities mentioned in the 16th Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Simplicity, humility and one-pointed devotion to…

Pujya Swamiji is heralded by many saints world-wide as well as leaders in this country as one of the great spiritual personalities of our time who contributed silently for almost six decades to moral & spiritual regeneration and social upliftment programmes. Many leaders have proclaimed that Pujya Swamiji's work in this country is unparalleled. The hallmark of Pujya Swamiji's life is his complete self-surrender and intense Guru Bhakti. Swamiji lived to glorify Gurudev every moment of his life.

Out of many examples of Guru and disciple relationships, Gurudev chose to mention the rare example of Sri Adi Sankara and Padmapada, when Gurudev spoke of Pujya Swamiji on the occasion when Pujya Swamiji was initiated into the holy order of Sannyas on 10 April 1956. Sri Padmapada was one of the most prominent and most devoted disciples of Sri Sankara and like the great Padmapada, Pujya Swamiji had total and absolute surrender to our Divine Master. It is no wonder then that our Divine Master used Pujya Swamiji as his instrument to revive and propagate Guru Bhakti Yoga and to disseminate his literature.

Two letters written by our Divine Master to Pujya Swamiji were read out at the Satsang. In the first, dated 13 August 1956, the Master quotes a letter written to him by Sri Albrecht Lewald of Pretoria, in praise of Pujya Swamiji. We quote an excerpt from this letter: "Our Pretoria Group was present at the opening of the Hillbrow Branch. Swami Srinivasan (Sahajananda) spoke with convincing dignity and sincerity. (I) Am admiring and loving my young Gurubhai who strikes me as the saintliest person I have ever met in my life."Pujya Swamiji chose a verse from the Bhagavad Gita to introduce his message on the importance of the Divine Name: "He attains Me easily who remembers Me constantly and daily." In this pre-recorded audio message, Pujya Swamiji said, "Every repetition of the Name brings about purification of the heart−takes us nearer God, creates spiritual vibrations and improves conditions. We can never say how the Name helps us. But, there is no doubt that if the Name of God did not have marvellous powers, then our great saints would not be writing about it so often."

As a birthday offering to Pujya Swamiji, the Spiritual Darlings of Pietermaritzburg enacted a Dance Drama on Lord Krishna and chanted the Siva Tandav Stotram. Both these items were fitting offerings as they were very much loved by Pujya Swamiji. One of the most loved stories on Lord Krishna is that of Makhan Chor (Butter Thief). The Baby Krishna would enter the homes of his devotees in search of this delicacy. In this dance drama, the villagers complain to Mother Yashoda that Krishna has again stolen their butter and when Baby Krishna is confronted with this, his immediate response is to deny that he has done so. He then goes through an entire range of excuses designed to protest his innocence until finally admitting to his mother that he did in fact steal the butter. The dance shows the mischievousness of Baby Krishna. Pujya Swamiji would have been proud of our Spiritual Darlings from Pietermaritzburg.

Perhaps a background to the Siva Tandav Stotram would not be out of place. The Uttara Kand of the Ramayana records the story of the King Ravana who had defeated and looted the city of his brother Kubera which was located near Mount Kailash. After the victory, Ravana was returning to Lanka in his chariot, Pushpaka Vimana (the flying chariot he took from Kubera) when he spotted a beautiful place. However, his chariot could not fly over it. Ravana met Nandi, Lord Shiva's attendant, who told him that he was not allowed to pass over Mount Kailash as Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati were there. Ravana became enraged and mocked Nandi who cursed him that monkeys would destroy him. In turn, Ravana decided to uproot Mount Kailash. He put his twenty arms under the mountain and started to lift it. Mother Parvati was terrified. However, the omniscient Lord Shiva, pressed the mountain into place with his big toe and trapped Ravana under it. Ravana cried out in pain. He then began to sign hymns in praise of Lord Shiva. The Shiva Tandav Stotram is one such hymn written by Ravana in praise of Lord Shiva. Our gratitude to the Spiritual Darlings of PMB for bringing out the energy of these verses so beautifully.

On behalf of all devotees, we thank our Divine Master for blessing us with his foremost disciple, Sri Swami Sahajananda. We offer our heartfelt gratitude to Pujya Swamiji for the deep love Swamiji has for all of us and the care with which he continues to guide and shape our lives. We thank Swamiji for accepting us into the Ashram and we pray that we may have the devotion, loyalty and sincerity to follow Swamiji's directives in our daily lives. Today, as we celebrate the glorious life of Pujya Swamiji and during this most auspicious Guru Purnima period, let us resolve to rededicate ourselves to our personal Sadhana and the activities of the Mission as a gift to Sri Gurudev and Pujya Swamiji for all that they are doing for us.

One of the most ancient, glorious and eagerly awaited events on the Hindu Calendar, Guru Purnima, was celebrated by Divine Life Society of South Africa on Sunday, 9 July at…

Guru Purnima falls on the full moon day in the month of Ashad (July-August). On this day, sacred to the memory of the great sage, Bhagavan Sri Vyasa, Sannyasins settle at some place to study and discourse on the thrice-blessed Brahma Sutras composed by Maharishi Vyasa, and engage themselves in Vedantic philosophical study and investigation. Sri Vyasa has rendered unforg

ettable service to humanity for all times by editing the four Vedas and writing the eighteen Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. In honour of this divine personage, spiritual aspirants perform Vyasa Puja on this day, and disciples worship their spiritual preceptors. Saints, monks and men of God are honoured and entertained by acts of charity by the householders with deep faith and sincerity. On this day, we pay special homage to our own Guru, Sri Swami Sivananda and his illustrious disciple, Sri Swami Sahajananda.

Our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda recommended the following spiritual activities on Guru Purnima Day, "Generate fresh waves of spirituality. Let all you have read, heard, seen and learnt, become transformed through spiritual practice into a continuous outpouring of universal love, ceaseless loving service, and continuous prayer and worship of the Lord who is seated in the hearts of all beings."The Master continued, "It is through the medium and Grace of the spiritual preceptor that the individual can raise himself to Cosmic Consciousness. The Guru is verily a link between the individual and the Immortal. He is a being who has raised himself from this to That, and thus has a free and unhampered access to both realms. He stands, as it were, upon the threshold of immortality and, bending down, raises the struggling aspirants with his one hand, and with the other, lifts them up into the kingdom of everlasting happiness and infinite Truth-Consciousness."

Pujya Swami Sahajananda wrote, "If the disciple serves the Guru with faith, love and devotion, the Guru will work through the disciple and hasten his spiritual progress. Our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda himself has said, 'If you take care of my mission, I will take care of you.' In several places in his books the Master has stated how the Guru's power works through the disciple and hastens his spiritual progress. He said that at one stage the Guru's power works with tremendous speed."

Parts of a recorded Guru Purnima message, delivered ex tempore many years ago by Pujya Swami Sahajananda,were played on this night. Pujya Swamiji spoke about understanding the Law of Karma and linked it to the role of the Guru in the life of the disciple. "If we remember this great Law of Karma, then most of our troubles will be over. If you understand this Law properly, you will be free from worries. We have to work out our Karmas. Only in the case of those who have a Guru, the Guru can ward off certain Karmas. If you are destined to pass away, the Guru can ward that off. The saints all say that only in the case of a disciple, you get special protection, which is not given to the ordinary man. But, when the Guru will save you and when he will not, when he will ward off a calamity and when he will not, that is in his hands. He will allow a certain calamity to go through because it might be necessary for your development. In other cases, he might stop it. He might stop your illness or something like that. But, whatever it is, in true Bhakti we don't care where the Guru leads us, because we are holding his hand and wherever the Guru leads us we follow. That is the only way of getting peace of mind."

The honour of unveiling of the "Centenary Crest" was accorded to a very senior devotee, who has rendered meritorious service for many years. In 2024, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda's Sannyas Diksha, and in 2025 we will celebrate the Birth Centenary of beloved Pujya Swami Sahajananda. All Centenary Projects and Programmes will bear this crest. In unveiling the plaque, he said, "It is an act of Guru Bhakti to promote the Name and teachings of our beloved Gurudev. Our Gurudev, Sri Swami Sivananda is a spiritual force who has transformed and saved countless individuals and will continue to do so through his literature. We owe a debt of gratitude to our Master for his Grace in our lives. In the case of Pujya Swami Sahajananda, we owe it to the younger generation and the souls yet to come to the earth to inform them of this great Being who once walked this country. It is our duty to present this super spiritual role-model for Guru Bhakti, supreme loyalty and devotion to the Guru, before their eyes."The video presentation on the Master was enjoyed by all as they watched the Master walking around the precincts of the Ashram, interacting with devotees and being worshipped by them. In the voice-over, the Master gave valuable advice on attaining purity of mind. Introspect to eradicate vices. "Practise Pranayama and meditation. The subtle impressions, hidden deep down in the mind are dangerous", said the Master.

The exquisite dances by the Sivananda Dance Academy and the high-quality singing of the well-chosen Bhajans and Kirtans, ended a morning truly well spent. Devotees left the precincts of Sivananda International Cultural Centre with a feeling of spiritual satisfaction and joy.

We are happy to report that the entire Satsang was live-streamed to all parts of the world and devotees expressed their gratitude for allowing them to share in the joy of being a part of this event, albeit thousands of kilometres away. We express our deep appreciation to our Divine Master and Pujya Swamiji for their Grace and for providing all the facilities for the spiritual growth of devotees. Our sincere thanks to all donors, devotees, patrons and well-wishers for their generous contribution in support of the service activities of the Society. It is through the loyal support of donors that the Society could complete 566 projects since 1974.

We include a fitting closure to this report in the words of Pujya Swami Sahajananda, prepared on 29 July 2007, "So on this sacred Guru Purnima day let us dedicate ourselves to our Master's mission. All our devotees are already serving our Master with so much love, dedication and enthusiasm that cannot be described in words. There is not a single department where these qualities are missing. I see everything and feel that words cannot describe their love and dedication to our Master. Even those who do sweeping do their tasks with such perfection. Through the Grace of our Master may we continue to serve him with faith and devotion!"

Report: A.M Moolla Spes Nova School The Sunlit Path follow-up Programme for learners from Phoenix was held on Friday, 19 May at the A.M. Moolla Spes Nova School Hall, involving…

In his welcome address, Mr T. Reddy, Principal of Avonford Secondary said, "Today may be a turning point in your life. If you put your mind to it, listen carefully to what the Divine Life Society presenters have in mind for us, you will leave this place a changed person. I was told that this programme is not only for those who have problems with drugs, alcohol and other related problems, but it is also designed to prevent such problems occurring in your life. Let us take depression as an example. Anyone can become depressed on any day. You may be on the brink of thoughtlessly taking your life. Learn today what the causes of depression are and how you can overcome it. As you grow older and enter the adult world, there are many challenges. Divine Life Society has taken the initiative to share with us how to face these challenges. What pleases me also about this programme is that it does not try to change your religion. It will, in fact, make your faith in your religion, stronger."

In the section on the purpose of the programme and the summary of the initial programme held in 2016, we reminded them of the benefits of the Sunlit Path Checklist, silent sitting and living a lifestyle conducive to peaceful co-existence. We spoke about the adverse effects of television viewing, of the dangers of drugs and alcohol, of controlling the sex urge, of the causes of depression and of the disastrous consequences of suicide. They were reminded of their bold and momentous decision to sign the pledge form to try to stay away from drugs and other social ills. Our Programme Director also pointed out the value of reading the quarterly magazine "Sunlit Path" which they receive by post The most important reason for this workshop is to take stock of oneself, to see what progress has been made. What followed thereafter, was a motivational address, on the life of Swami Sahajananda, the founder of the Sunlit Club. Swamiji lead by example. He never preached without practising first. His entire life was based on strong moral principles which he followed to the letter. Learners were exhorted to emulate these examples if they wished to attain success in their lives.

The play reading entitled, "Sunlit Path will take you closer to God" was well received. In response to the play reading, one learner said, "Suicide is rejecting God's gift of life. It may be the easy way out, but it is not the right way". Another learner responded to the practice of celibacy that was mentioned in the play, "When you practise celibacy, the energy is converted into spiritual energy which gives you a powerful mind to accomplish difficult tasks to make you a better individual and you can be a role-model to others. You must respect your body because there is a time and place for everything."

On the importance of the Diary/Sunlit Path Checklist, our presenter told them that those who maintained a diary to monitor their behaviour, made remarkable progress, so much so that they were internationally acclaimed. Mahatma Gandhi was one such person!

In the "Question & Answer" session we were pleased to hear learners ask searching questions:1. Proofs that God exists!2. Why are people, who claim to love God are yet disobedient to God's Laws?3. Why does Divine Life Society discourage free-mixing of males and females?4. How can television be harmful?5. Why are these teachings not introduced into the study of Life Orientation Skills at school?

Since certain learners who attended the first workshop were unable to come as they were writing Controlled Tests set by the Department of Education, new learners took their place. There were 49 such learners who signed the pledge form to try to keep away from drugs and other social ills. We pray that God will grant them the strength and inspiration to keep up their resolves.

In closing this report, we express our gratitude to principals of schools for allowing learners to attend this workshop. We thank the management of A. M. Moolla Spes Nova School for the free use of the hall and its facilities. We are grateful to devotees from Divine Life Society of S.A. (Phoenix Branch) for preparing refreshments and meals. Special thanks to the Department of Education for granting permission to conduct this workshop with learners during school hours.

A special Sunlit Path Programme was held on Tuesday, 23 May 2017 at Glenover Secondary. It was indeed a pleasure for Divine Life Society of S.A. devotees to serve, inspire and guide these learners who are in the midst of preparing for their Grade 12 examinations. The original intention was to offer them the Sunlit Path Programme which was designed by Pujya Swami Sahajananda to assist learners overcome drug addiction and other social ills. The committee felt that since it is most important examination, being their final year at school, we should also contribute to assisting them academically. It is against this background that Professor Kantilal Bhowan presented a motivational address. The essence of his talk, which was very well received by learners, was sumarised using the pneumonic STUDY.

SPIRITUAL: Prayer sharpens your mind and intellect. Professor Bhowan correlated this to the Sunlit Path workshop and the pledges that learners sign and how it will benefit them in their studies.

TECHNIQUES: Professor Bhowan suggested various techniques to improve concentration−steady gazing, breathing exercises calm the mind and help one to focus, importance of exercising (sports included), and acupressure for energizing. The physical body is an instrument given to us by God to carry out His Will. We must keep it in a good condition. Learners were also fascinated by the demonstration of brain power exercises which he does daily and found immense benefit.

UNDERSTANDING: Understanding is enhanced by participating in group learning and also paying careful attention to your educators.

DISCIPLINE – A neat and clean study environment, structured timetable for homework and exam preparation, observing silence, regularity, talk only when necessary (too much talking wastes mental energy), are some of the ways to discipline the mind. Professor Bhowan quoted freely from his own experiences. Maintain the Sunlit Path Checklist. (There is no education where there is no discipline−Plato)

YES, I CAN DO IT: Be positive. Be motivated. Be focused.

Since much of Professor Bhowan’s presentation was extracted from the book, “Enlightened Education” by Sri Swami Sivananda, the Sunlit Path Committee offered this book to learners free of charge. It was agreed that learners will accept the book on a voluntary basis.

Another addition to this special programme was a lesson in basic Mathematics presented by Professor Poobhalan Pillay. He learnt just before presenting the workshop that not all learners are studying Pure Mathematics. Accordingly, he adapted the lesson on the spur of the moment, to suit all. His main thrust in understanding Mathematics is to ask WHY. He spent some time discussing angles and spoke about the value of the Bonds Table which was enforced years ago. He exhorted learners not to be too reliant on calculators but have the bonds table firmly entrenched in their minds when studying and solving these problems.

Thereafter, the usual Sunlit Path Programme covered the following topics:

1. Depression & Suicide

2. Drugs, TV, Alcohol, Gambling and the Law of Cause & Effect

3. Prayer, Celibacy, Health & Diet and Foot Massage

After the breakaway session and contribution from learners based on the above presentations, a detailed explanation was given about the value of the Sunlit Path Checklist and how to complete them as well as the importance of the pledge form. Arising out of this, 46 out of 73 learners signed the pledge form to try to keep away from drugs, alcohol and other socials ills.

We received some very interesting feedback from learners:

1. Instead of reading out the dialogue, why not act out the play.

2. I realise that spirituality plays an important part of my life. Thank you for teaching me this.

3. I am now motivated and inspired to excel in my studies.

4. I am taking with me ways of how to improve my concentration and improve my life. I found more faith in God.

5. Spending the day with you has taught me a lot. I learnt some skills to deal with my problems.

6. When life puts you in a tough situation, don’t say “Why me?”, say “Try me!”

7. I learnt a lot about depression and how to get rid of it. I will try out all the exercises.

In the summation, we reminded learners, “You are the master of your destiny. Control it! Otherwise, someone else will control it for you. As a starting point, have a dream, set goals, then execute a plan to reach these goals. Do not be governed by your moods or circumstances. Remove negative thoughts. Say, “Whatever comes my way, I am going to handle it and overcome it.” Never give up!

Our sincere gratitude to the management of Glenover Secondary for allowing us to serve and guide the grade 12 learners. We express our thanks to the Department of Education for allowing us to conduct this workshop during school hours. We pray that the advice proffered will be heeded by the learners. We wish them every success in their examination.

Divine Life Society of S.A., in conjunction with sister organisations in Reservoir Hills and surrounding areas, organised a successful Hindu Dharma Campaign on Sunday, 14 May at Sivanandashram, Reservoir Hills.…

The Sri Sathya Sai Organisation of S.A., arriving in large numbers, commenced Nagar Sankirtan at 6am. We are grateful to them for blessing Sivanandashram with their vibrant chanting of Mantras and Bhajans & Kirtans, invoking the presence of the Deities. They energised and charged the precincts of the Ashram as they walked around some of the buildings. Sri Sathya Sai Baba said, "Nagar Sankirtan is a mass spiritual awakening, glorifying God." Pundit Bhagprakash Maharaj and devotees from the Ramayan Mandalee chanted the sacred verses from the Ramayan and conducted the Havan. The Dravida Society of S.A. are no strangers to Divine Life Society. In the early days, on the 10 July every year, on the auspicious occasion of Pujya Swami Sahajananda's birthday, the children from Dravida Society would sing Bhajans & Kirtans in their most melodious voices, as an offering to Pujya Swamiji. At the Hindu Dharma Campaign, the adults sang two Bhajans. The session was concluded by a Yoga Asana session, conducted by devotees of Divine Life Society, demonstrating the various poses and highlighting the benefits thereof.

The second session from 10am to 12 noon commenced with Invocation. In the welcome address, we were given a brief background as to how the Hindu Dharma Campaigns started. "Pujya Swami Sahajananda started these Hindu Dharma Programmes over 15 years ago, as he was deeply concerned about the unprecedented number of conversions of Hindus to other faiths. Today, many have difficulty in comprehending the deep and profound truths to be found in our Hindu scriptures. These programmes are designed to instil faith in the hearts of Hindus, to explain some of the sublime teachings of our glorious religion and to equip them with the tools to deal with the hardships of daily life by turning to God."

"Be prepared to sacrifice everything. Be of one mind. Speak with one voice. Have common aspiration. Act in perfect union. Cultivate immense love for your religion. The flame of love must burn in your hearts steadily. There is no religion greater than love." This is an excerpt from a message from our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda. Sri Swami Sahajananda wrote, "We make an earnest appeal to all Hindus to adhere strictly to our Hindu Dharma, which is unparalleled in its glory and greatness. Kindly read the booklet Glory of Hinduism available here. It will fill your heart with pride. Please take as many copies as possible and distribute widely to those not present here today. In this way, you will be protecting our Dharma from being disrupted."

For the first-time ever, we released an audio book, which was released by a long-standing devotee of the Society. She said, "I am very happy to release this audio book on behalf of our Divine Master and Pujya Swamiji. This is the very first time that we are releasing an audio book. It contains three of Pujya Swamiji's favourite plays: Krishna's Jewels, Old Drum New Palace and Bashmasur. The plays are written by our Divine Master, Sri Swami Sivananda. Swami Sivananda was always jovial and did not hesitate to resort to ready wit and humour to instruct his disciples around him. His humorous stories are also full of deep spiritual meaning. We have no doubt that you will enjoy listening to them and benefit from them as well. It is my pleasure to offer this audio book at the sacred shrine of the Master."

Soul-stirring Bhajans from Divine Life Society of S.A., a DVD presentation and programme on Hindu worship and symbols by the Spiritual Darlings of Reservoir Hills and two graceful dances by the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram, concluded the second session.

The third session, a centenary project, was the Sivananda Book Festival held in the Sivananda Hall at Reservoir Hills Ashram. The book festival was a celebration of our Gurudev's bountiful gifts to us in the form of his powerful writings which has transformed any number of people over the decades. This Festival was a tribute to our Divine Master and Pujya Swamiji. Pujya Swamiji looked for unique ways and means to get the Master's books in the hands of the masses. All those involved in the displays set extremely high standards which were in keeping with the spirit of Guru Bhakti. A festive atmosphere prevailed through the decorative and impressive layout of the various stalls. After a formal session of book reviews in Ganga Rani, devotees proceeded to the Sivananda Book Festival Centre. A lively sketch, marketing our books, was enacted by our Rishikumaris at 2pm. What followed was an exciting quiz session based on the sketch. Five prizes were given to the winners. Books also went on special, at low prices. A bell was sounded to indicate the commencement of the specials. This offer lasted for 5 minutes and devotees hurried to the point of sale. Card facilities were made available. We also had a live DVD presentation screened at the end of the hall, showing the various stages of printing a book. A special reading area was provided for those who wished to browse through the books before purchasing them. A stall was also dedicated to making Jnana Yajna pledges and accepting book orders. The Society undertook to post these books to the address specified by the sender. Apart from our book publications and CDS, we also had Audio Books. As it was "Mothers' Day", all mothers who are present were given a special gift. At the stalls, general spirit was uplifted and smiles and laughter was the order of the day.

Sivananda Book Festival (See Full Image Gallery Below)

We reminded devotees of Pujya Swami Sahajananda's advice: "Even if one book is sold and it transforms the life of the person reading it, the spiritual merit gained by him will also go to the devotee selling the book. So please buy as many books as you can afford and give them out as gifts." One of those gifts is sure to have its desired effect.

The Society is planning more book festivals as part of its centenary project. The day ended with tea Prasad.

Some comments from our sister organisations and a devotee:

1. "The hospitality received was excellent, I had to fetch my car from the car park which was quite a distance and the rain was very heavy. I was grateful for the shuttle service and devotees who were so kind and courteous, enquiring if they could be of service. I thank Swami for the shuttle, as it saved me from walking in the rain".−Devotee from the Sathya Sai Organisation

2. "On behalf of Revered Mataji, we commend you for the excellent programme organized to promote our glorious Hindu Dharma. Thank you for including us in your programme. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Divine Life Society of S.A. for the warm and loving hospitality extended to us"−Sri Sarada Devi Ashram

3. "The feeling of unity and togetherness of our devotees in putting this function together is something that can be compared to the unity, enthusiasm, and excitement we felt many years ago, during the World Sri Hanuman Conference."−DLS Devotee

4. The stalls looked magnificent. Honestly speaking, it was the best stall setup I have seen, compared to any of our previous functions. The book sales were fantastic. Besides all of this, I am sure you will also agree that the atmosphere during the setup and during the festival was electric. One could feel the spiritual vibrations permeating the area. Everyone was so jovial and I feel it was definitely our Masters Grace that led to the success of this event.−DLS Devotee